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Marriage, Family and Child Therapy
State licensure requirements

The University’s Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy (MSC/MFCT) program meets the licensure requirements in the states listed below. Review the licensure requirements listed under your state.

California

LMFT

Below are the steps necessary to apply for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) after graduating with a Master of Science/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy (MSC/MFCT) degree at University of Phoenix. California has two levels of licensing: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) For additional information see the California Board of Behavioral Sciences Website

Clearances:

  • Fingerprint clearance must be obtained via Applicant Live Scan or Ten-Print “Hard Card Applicant Fingerprint Card. DO NOT COMPLETE FINGERPRINTS MORE THAN 60 DAYS PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION. Fingerprint results without an application on file will only be held for 6 months.
  • Complete the Background Clearance. Note that the application for the exam includes a Background Statement with attachments.
  • Social Security Number is required on application

Exams:

To become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) you will need to take and pass the California Law and Ethics Exam and then take and pass the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Exam. 

After you have earned 3,000 hours and your hours are approved, apply for the LMFT California Clinical Exam.

  • Provide Official Transcript verifying your master’s degree with degree title and date of conferral posted. Transcripts must be sent electronically from the educational institution or in an envelope sealed by the educational institution.  
  • Register as an Associate and begin accruing hours toward the State-required post-graduate total. Before you complete the associate registration form, be sure to have the following so you are prepared to submit all items in the same package:
  • Application form and fee
  • Degree Program Certification, Form B in the application

Applicants should review information about the 90 Day Rule which allows applicants who graduated after January 1, 2020 to count supervised experience between the degree award date and issue date of the Associate registration number under the rule if the workplace required the applicant to complete Live Scan fingerprinting.

Clinical Placement:

After registering as an associate (AMFT), pre- and post-graduate clinical experience must be completed under supervision as follows:

  • Minimum of 3,000 hours completed during a period of at least 104 weeks with a minimum of 1,750 hours of direct counseling experience of which at least 500 hours must be gained diagnosing and treating couples, families, and children, and 1,250 hours of non-clinical experience which may consist of direct supervisor contact, administering and evaluating psychological tests, writing clinical reports, writing progress or process notes, client centered advocacy, and workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences directly related to marriage, family, and child counseling.
  • The 104 supervision weeks must contain 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision or 2 hours of group supervision during any week and 52 weeks in which the applicant received at least one hour of individual or triadic supervision.
  • Maximum of 1,300 hours gained pre-degree and maximum of 750 hours of counseling and direct supervisor contact
  • Maximum 40 hours of experience earned in any week between all settings
  • Maximum of 6 hours of individual, triadic or group supervision in any week
  • There is no limit on the number of telehealth hours.

 

Apply for Licensure:

You may apply for licensure after all the above requirements have been met. These requirements include but are not limited to obtaining 3,000 hours of experience, and after required examinations have been passed. All applications have a fee that is to be sent with completed application to the Board office. Applications must be sent electronically or mailed in a sealed envelope.

State Agency Contact Information

California Board of Behavioral Sciences
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite S200
Sacramento, CA 95834

Phone: (916) 574-7830
Toll free: (800) 326-2297

This summary of state licensure requirements is provided as a reference tool for our counseling students and graduates. Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate and up to date. However, as licensing requirements are subject to change at any time, you are strongly encouraged to regularly check with the state licensing authority (provided above) for licensure requirements.

The program meets the licensure requirements in these states, however at this time the university is not offering the program in these states:

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The University has determined that its Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy (MSC/MFCT) program does NOT meet the requirements for licensure in the following states. Please click on the links below for State Agency Contact Information for the applicable state licensing board:

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